the real australian - The Bush Church Aid Society

Nungalinya College
Celebrates 40th
Anniversary
2013 marks a major milestone for
Nungalinya College, which is celebrating
forty years of ‘Empowering Indigenous
Christians.’
Many have been blessed through
the ministry the college has provided
throughout the years, having been trained
and equipped in areas of Foundational
Studies, Theology and Ministry, and Cultural
Awareness Studies. Nungalinya College
is a Combined Churches Training College
for Indigenous Australians, situated in
Casuarina, a northern suburb of Darwin, NT,
and was founded back in 1973. Jude Long,
who is the Principal of the college, says
“Nungalinya is an immensely significant
College. Most of the Indigenous church
leaders have at one time studied at the
College or had an association with it.”
Joy Sandefur, who is the National
Researcher and Advisor on Indigenous
Matters at BCA says, “we have been
involved with Nungalinya for many of the
forty years of the College’s existence. Our
provision of staff in various capacities,
such as literacy worker, librarian, teacher
and the Dean of Anglican students has
contributed to the development and
empowerment of Indigenous Christians and
the churches they come from. It is exciting
to see students come to the College and
over a number of visits grow in confidence,
learning and skills. Nungalinya is strongly
endorsed by Aboriginal Christians who
6 SPRING 2013
One of the students with an iPad that the
college has been blessed with this year
Studying the Bible
appreciate this unique opportunity for
learning the Bible and ministry skills.”
Recently BCA Nomads Barry and Pat
(Gold Coast), Frank and Pauline (Tamworth),
Lorraine and Brandt (NZ), and Penny and
Trevor (Toowoomba) visited and helped out
at the College. Property Manager Neil Black
said, “Our volunteer labour force has been
nothing short of magnificent. So I wish to
give our heartfelt thanks to BCA for your
strong support of the College.”
The men have been renovating an
accommodation unit which looks spick and
span with a new coat of paint, ready for
another lot of students who are coming